News

Black River Falls @ Westby
Sept. 13, 2022

Both teams, all of the coaches, and the fans were absolutely enjoyable to work with. I was very impressed with the student section from Westby, in that they loudly cheered throughout the match, had some fun during the match, and had great cheers throughout. It was also a joy to listen to their pep band prior to the start of the match. They added a great atmosphere to the match. I also want to point out the sportsmanship of the Black River Falls players. They all came up to me after shaking hands with Westby and fist-bumped me and thanked me for reffing. Many of them also sought out my partner, Lynn, and the line judges to thank them as well. I commend the players, the coaches, the administration, and the fans from both schools. This is exactly the atmosphere we should see in high school athletics!

Reporting Official:  Lance Bagstad

Lake Country Lutheran vs. Lakeshore Lutheran
Aug. 26, 2022

From the moment we arrived, we were escorted to a nice area where we had plenty of room to change clothes and get ready for the game. The field was a little bit of a hike, so we were given a ride on a golf cart to/from the field before/after the game. On the field, both teams were very respectful, They were helping each other up off the ground after a play,and they played hard and played the game the right way. Players came up asking about cross eye black they had on and asked if it was alright. I advised it was illegal and had to remove it, so they did. They were aware of making sure their teammates had their pads covered up or their knees covered, and didn't complain about anything. It was a well-played game, and even the fans thanked us (from the losing team) as we were getting a ride back to the locker rooms. The AD even went to the concession stand to grab some pizza and popcorn for us for after the game. All in all, class act all the way around, and they should be very proud of the atmosphere they have at that school. I would gladly work their games again in the future. They went above and beyond to make sure the officials were taken care of. Thank you!

Reporting Official:  Mike Edic

Cornell @ Athens
Aug. 26, 2022

This letter is to recognize the outstanding sportsmanship displayed by the Athens Blue Jays and the Cornell Chiefs. First, it’s a pleasure to work with Athen’s Athletic Director Craig Diedrich. His communication and ability to work with officials is outstanding. Second, Head Coaches Todd Diethelm and Craig Braaten teach positive sportsmanship to their coaching staff and players. Both team’s sidelines were encouraging, great to communicate with, and kept their sidelines clean during the play. This really helps keep officials safe and able to do their job. Questions were asked and the coaches appreciated the explanations given. Third, the players did an amazing job on the field. They worked and communicated well with officials, motivated their own teammates, provided the opposing team with words of praise, and helped each other off the turf. As a crew, we concluded that these athletes were some of the most respectful, positive, and grateful athletes we have encountered over decades of officiating. Plus, they adhered to playing safe football regarding blocks and defenseless players. Last, those typically not in the spotlight did an exceptional job. The chain gang was competent and listened well, the announcer positive, the clock operator spot on, fans positive and constructive, and the athletic trainer from Marshfield Clinic caring during her busy evening. It is contests like these that make the task of officiating rewarding. Our crew tips it cap to the communities of Athens and Cornell and the educational leadership of those schools. It takes time and effort to train our youth on the importance of education, sports, leadership, and exhibiting positive sportsmanship.

Reporting Official:  Shawn Umland

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, in partnership with Rural Mutual Insurance Company, has selected the team Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2022 Spring State Team Tournaments.

Hillsboro @ New Lisbon
May 5, 2022

New Lisbon has a very young team, they make a few mistakes as we all do, but they are growing from theses experiences. Central to that growth is their head coach, Ricki Lowe. I have the opportunity to work a good number of varsity contests and observe and interact with head coaches. Coach Lowe exemplifies the best attributes the WIAA, a district, an athletic director, parents and student-athletes could desire. Her positive encouragement, tireless support, and game knowledge clearly has her young ladies respect and support. Educational based extracurricular activities can evoke a wide range of emotions. Coach Lowe is a wonderful example of all the best things these opportunities present.

Reporting Official:  Jeff Taylor